Bowling ball buffing machine



Sept. 24, 1963 J SZYMANOWSKI 3,104,408 BOWLING BALL BUFFING MACHINE Filed April 9, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet l \20 I3 g4 E. I

25 o no I? I 3 u no V INVENTOR.

ALBERT J. SZYMANOWSKI 3 UZMQQMJ ATTORNEY Sept. 24, 1963 A. J. SZYMANOWSKI BOWLING BALL BUFFING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 9, 1962 IN TOR. ALBERT J. SZYMA O SKI ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,104,408 BOWLING BALL BUFFING MACHINE Albert J. Szymanowski, 37 Lancaster Drive, Toledo, Ohio Filed Apr. 9, 1962, Ser- No. 186,205 6 Claims. (Cl. 15-97) This invention relates to mechanism for cleaning and bufling bowling balls whereby a high gloss can be readily imparted thereto and an object is to produce a simple and eficient mechanism of this character by which all portions of the outside of the ball may be quickly and easily acted upon to achieve the desired finish, the bowling ball being so mounted that it automatically moves in response to this action of a rotating butter thereby to present all portions of the exposed surface thereto.

Another object is to produce a bowling ball cleaning and buffing mechanism in which the ball is so supported that it can easily rotate in any direction in response to the action of a rotating buffer against which it is pressed so that automatically the entire surface of the ball is brought into buffer engagement speedily and eificiently.

A further object is to produce mechanism of the above character in which the bowling ball can be shifted quickly and easily from one buffer or cleaner to another so that operation can be expedited.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will here inafter appear and, for purposes of illustration but not of limitation, an embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which FIGURE 1 is a front elevational View of the bowling ball buffing and cleaning mechanism;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the mechanism;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view of the mechanism;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the bowling ball supporting holder;

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of the bowling ball holder shown in FIGURE 4 and taken on the line 5-5 of FIG- URE 4;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged vertical sectional fragmentary view showing the bowling ball supporting roller and the mounting for same; and

FIGURE 7 is a vertical sectional view substantially on the line 7--7 of FIGURE 6.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a mechanism for cleaning and bufiing bowling balls and consists of a pedestal 10 of a suitable height, on the top of which is a support or bracket 11 for an electric motor 12. The armature shaft 13 of the motor 12 projects horizontally from opposite ends of the motor, and suitably mounted on the end portions of the armature shafts are buffing and cleaning wheels 14 and 15 respectively, these wheels being of different consistencies for elfecting the desired cleaning and bufiing action as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art. Associated with each of the wheels 14 and 15 and suitably supported by brackets connected to the motor housing are guard members 16 which also provide collectors for dirt, cleaning compound, etc. used in connection with the rotating wheels.

Mounted on the front of the pedestal 10 and suitably spaced vertically from each other are bearing brackets 17 and 18 in which a vertically disposed shaft 19 is mounted for oscillating movement, a collar 19a on the lower portion of the shaft bearing against the bracket 18 for holding the same in position. Fixed to the upper portion of the shaft 19 and extending horizontally therefrom is an arm 20, the outer end of which is fixed to a vertically disposed bearing sleeve 21. For purposes of rigidity a diagonal brace arm is fixed respectively to the lower end of the sleeve 21 and inclines downwardly to the lower portion of the shaft 19 to which it is fixed.

3,104,408 Patented Sept. 24, 1963 therein. The holder 23 comprises a semi-spherical bowl 1 24 which is of such' dimension that a bowling ball can fit freely therein with the upper portion fully exposed. Integral with the bottom portion of the holder 24 and depending therefromis a tubular skirt 25. The bowling ball does not bear against the metallic side of the holder 24 but instead a series of vertically disposed leather strips 26 are adhered to the inside of the holder, as shown in FIGURES 4 and 5. The strips 26 are equidistantly spaced from each other for reducing the friction and heat generated by the movement of the bowling ball during the bufiing operation as will hereinafter appear.

In the lower end of the tubular skirt 25 are rigid cross strips or braces 27 and suitably secured at its upper end to the central portion of the cross strips 27 is a depending cylindrical post 28 which fits into vertical sleeve 21 thereby to support the ball holder in the desired position.

An important feature of this invention resides in the provision of a roller 29 for supporting the bowling ball B. The roller 29 is of rubber or rubber-like material having a slight amount of resiliency. As shown the peripheral surface of the roller 29 is dished or inwardly curved to conform to the shape of a bowling ball and the weight of the ball is primarily sustained by the roller. The roller 29 is in this instance molded on a spindle 30, the ends of which rotate in ball bearing units 31 carried by a pair of upright bracket plates 32. The bracket plates 32 are secured by screws 33 at their lower ends to opposite ends of a support plate 34. The roller 29 is disposed at one end of the support plate 34 which is centrally mounted for rotation on a ball bearing unit 35, a screw 36 providing the attachment between the support plate 34 and the central portion of the cross strips 27. Thus the roller 29 is eccentrically mounted for swiveling movements.

In operation it will be manifest that the bowling ball support 23 may be selectively swung to a position for engagement with the boiling wheel 14 or with the bufling wheel 15. The rotary movement of either bulling wheel when in engagement with the bowling ball B imparts rotary movement to the bowling ball which can rotate freely in its support. Most of the weight is taken up by the rubber roller 29 which can rotate freely and can also swivel from one position to another as the bowling ball is rapidly driven by the buinng wheel against which it is pressed. Thus the bowling ball not only rotates about an axis normal to the support 23- but constantly changes its position due to the almost frictionless mounting. The strips 26 of leather merely hold the ball in the support but permit it to rotate in any direction it desires. Manifestly the ball will turn recurrently about a multiplicity of axes since the supporting roller 29 is free to swivel as well as to rotate, thereby to assist the bowling ball in automatically presenting the entire outside surface to the action of one or the other buffing wheels. The depending skirt 25 affords a hand hold by which the holder can be conveniently turned to aid in bringing all portions of the ball into bufiing contact. This not only removes grime and dirt from the surface of the bowling ball but also imparts a high gloss to it. This action is aided by the use of normal cleaning powders or compounds which are applied to one or the other of the bufiing wheels.

From the above it is manifest that I have produced an exceedingly simple and relatively inexpensive machine for treating the surfaces of bowling balls to produce a high sheen thereon. The ball can be quickly shifted from one buffing wheel to the other as occasion demands. The movement of the bowling ball during the bufling operation is automatic and due to its relatively frictionless mounting, it can whirl in response to the pressure exerted I v v 3 by holding the ball against the rotating butling wheel. It is found that all surfaces of the ball are rapidly brought into contact with the buffing wheel so that the operation can be accomplishing quickly and conveniently. 7 Numerous changes in details of construction, arrangement and operation may be efiected without departing from the spirit of the invention especially as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

-1. In bowling ball buffing mechanism, in combination, a rotary bufling wheel, a cup-shaped holder for a bowling ball, a rubber roller in the bottom of the holder against which the bowling ball rests, a swivel mounting for said roller, and means to shift the holder relatively to said buffing wheel to bring a bowling ball into contact therewith.

2. 'In bowling ball bufling mechanism, in combination, a rotary bufling wheel, a cup-shaped holder for a bowling ball, a rubber roller in the bottom ofi the holder, bracket means for supporting said roller on a horizontal axis, an eccentric mounting for said bracket means attording swiveling action thereof about a vertical axis and a shiftablemounting for said holder enabling the same to be moved toward the buffing wheel for causing the bowling ball to engage the buifing wheel.

*3. The structure as claimed in claim 2 in which the roller has an inwardly curved peripheral surface.

4. The structure as claimed in claim 2 comprising a series of vertically disposed spaced strips in the cup-shaped holder against which the bowling ball contacts for reduc- 30 ing friction.

'5. The structure as claimed in chain 2 comprising a series ofi vertically disposed spaced leather strips in the cup-shaped holder against which the bowling ball contacts for reducing friction.

6. In a bowling ball bufling mechanism, in combination, a pedestal, an electric motor on said pedestal having armature shaft extensions projecting horizontally from opposite ends thereof, a butting wheel secured to each extension for rotation therewith, support arm means adapted to oscillate laterally from one bufiing wheel to the other, a pivotal mounting on said pedestal for said arm means enabling movement about a vertical axis, a cup-shaped holder for a bowling ball carried by said arm means, a series of spaced leather strips on the inside of said holder against which a bowling ball engages, a bowling ball supporting roller in the bottom portion ofsaid holder, an anti-friction support for said roller enabling rotation about a horizontal axis, and an eccentric pivotal anti friction mounting for said anti-friction support enabling rotation about a vertical axis, whereby a bowling ball in said holder may :be pressed against one buffing wheel or the other and the rotation of the butfing wheel imparts rotation to the ball which due to the roller support turns so that the entire surface is presented to the action of the wheel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 825,803 Buck July 10, 1906 2,469,948 Bune May 10, 1949 2,628,462 Babcock Feb. 17, 1953 

1. IN BOWLING BALL BUFFING MECHANISM, IN COMBINATION, A ROTARY BUFFING WHEEL, A CUP-SHAPED HOLDER FOR A BOWLING BALL, A RUBBER ROLLER IN THE BOTTOM OF THE HOLDER AGAINST WHICH THE BOWLING BALL RESTS, A SWIVEL MOUNTING FOR SAID ROLLER, AND MEANS TO SHIFT THE HOLDER RELATIVELY TO SAID BUFFING WHEEL TO BRING A BOWLING BALL INTO CONTACT THEREWITH. 